Dublin Castle

Chapter 15

Dublin Castle Social Scene

State Ball, Dublin Castle, c. 1850

There was a history of lavish entertainment by the Viceregal Court, from the
early 1670s when Lady Essex was a renowned hostess. The Duke of Ormond created a
sumptuous Viceregal Court, during his second tenure of office, 1677 - 1685, with
over one hundred servants and officials. A few years later, Talbot, Earl of
Tyrconnell, orchestrated the use of pageantry and cheering crowds for the
arrival of his master, King James.

Successive Viceroys encouraged the participation of the powerful Protestant
landlord ascendancy class in Viceregal Court life. The Illustrious Order of St.
Patrick was instituted by George III in St. Patrick's Hall in 1783 and being
honoured with that distinction was seen as evidence of the high social standing
of the recipients. The Castle remained the focus of Anglo Irish social life with
its mixture of pomp, splendour, extravagance, rituals and pageantry throughout
the 18th and 19th Centuries. Unfortunately, the Castle's social scene and the
privileged lifestyles of this wealthy elite continued undiminished, throughout
the famine of 1845 - 1849, when 1.5 million Irish people died and a similar
number emigrated, mainly to Britain, U.S.A. and Australia.

The Permanent Secretary at the British Treasury, Charles Trevelyan, had
responsibility for social and economic policy in Ireland. He was well
intentioned but not very humane and passionately believed that market forces
should never be interfered with. This policy was responsible for many deaths.
Along with most of his Whig colleagues, he saw the famine as a visitation of God
on the Irish - a belief that the starving Irish later came to share.

The most important period in Dublin's social calendar was the six festive
weeks of the Castle's balls and dinners, which culminated on St. Patrick's Day,
17th March. During this 'Castle Season' the Viceroy resided in Dublin Castle
with his personal staff, chaplain, secretary, gentlemen-at-large and
aides-de-camp in waiting. Dublin hotel and boarding rooms were booked well in
advance. Gentry, aspiring gentry and debutantes from the great houses of Ireland
eagerly awaited the Viceroy's gilt edged invitation to attend.

The Viceroy's Levée opened the proceedings with a parading of the men of
court. On that evening a stream of carriages made their entry through Cork Hill
Gate. 'They are of all sorts and condition, from the handsome brougham which
conveys the Lord Chancellor in his wig and gown, to the jarvey upon which lounge
a couple of officers in resplendent uniform'. The Levée is but an inferior
occasion when compared with the 'Drawing Room' of the second evening 'when the
Castle is a scene of wonderful animation. The windows blaze with light, scarlet
cloth covers the staircase and corridors, which are filled with lovely
debutantes and handsome matrons. There is frou frou of silken dresses and the
chatter of many voices. There is the crowding into the antechamber, the passing
into the pen, the letting down of trains, the final presentation'.

Lady Fingal in her memoirs - seventy years young - remembers being presented
as a debutante at her first 'Drawing Room', to Lord Spencer (great great
grandfather of Princess Diana) who was in court dress with 'glittering orders'.
"It is the beard that I remember. In those days the Lord Lieutenant kissed each
of the debutantes as they were presented - an ordeal for both. I can remember
now the feeling of that long thick red beard against my cheek, tickling it. Then
it is over and now I curtsey to the lovely golden haired, rose and white, but
rather pompous-looking lady in her glittering jewels, beside Lord Spencer, and
walk backwards a few steps as I have been taught to do; without, I pray, falling
over my train. An ADC picks it up and replaces it on my arm, and the ceremony is
over. In the long gallery, refreshments are served, and one meets one's friends
as at an ordinary evening party".

In contrast to many of her ascendancy colleagues who were untouched by the
destitution of the majority, she was aware of her position in relation to
society at large. "There was a crowd about the gates of the Castle. The Dublin
poor always turned out to see any sight that there was. They shivered on the
pavement in their thin, ragged clothes, waiting for hours sometimes, so that
they might see the ladies in their silks and satins and furs step from their
carriages into the warmth and light and gaiety that received them. The poor were
incredibly patient. Even then I was dimly aware the appalling contrast between
their lives and ours, and wondered how long they would remain patient".

Another account however suggests that the crowd could be less than patient.
"The motley throng in the sidewalks indulge their pungent wit, not unmixed with
sarcasm, at the expense of each individual as he goes by".

The Castle social season culminated on St. Patrick's Day, 17th March. That
day began with an inspection of the guard and military manoeuvres, by the
Viceroy and his entourage on the State Apartments balcony, while the State Band
played from the other balcony in Bedford Tower. It was customary for them to
then 'make merry' and 'drown the shamrock'. On that festive night he gave a
banquet at the Castle which was followed by the St. Patrick's Ball 'in the hall
of that name which hardly holds the crowd of dancers'.

Dublin escaped the worst horrors of starvation but experienced a huge influx
of refugees. However, the silent killers of disease and infection (typhus,
dysentery and yellow fever) accompanied the famine and Asiatic cholera broke out
and spread quickly in the congested city of Dublin. It decimated the garrison of
Ship Street Barrack at the time of the intended royal visit.

The famine ruined many businesses and the Viceroy Clarendon encouraged the
visit of Queen Victoria, as he believed it would stimulate trade. On August 6th
1849 Queen Victoria landed at Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) accompanied by their
Royal Highnesses the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal.
She did not mention the famine in her letters. However, in a letter dated 6th
August from the Viceregal Lodge to her Uncle Leopold (King of the Belgians) she
stated that "you see more ragged and wretched people here than I ever saw
anywhere else" and that "tomorrow we have a levée (in Dublin Castle) where 1,700
are to be presented and the next day a review (of the troops) and in the evening
the Drawing Room, where 900 ladies are to be presented".

As was normal, a series of toasts were drunk at dinner. The first was made to
the health of the monarch, the next to the Prince of Wales. This was followed by
one to the glorious memory of King William of Orange and again to his glorious
victory at the Battle of the Boyne on the 12th July 1690. The final four toasts
were made to the prosperity of the city, the linen industry, the prosperity of
Ireland and its trade.

The royal visit passed off without the slightest incident - in contrast to
her third visit of 1861 during which there were street protests and stones were
thrown at Prince Albert.